Target marker warhead

ABSTRACT

A marker warhead is substituted for the explosive warhead of a guided missile so as to give an indication of the point of the fuze function or impact of the missile and mark the target for accurate delivery of conventional weapons.

Emits fittes Patent [191 andler et a1.

[ 1 Jan.23, 1973 [54] TARGET MARKER WARHEAD [75] lnventors: George S. Handler; Kenneth R. Foote; Milton K. Burford, all of China Lake, Calif.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy 7/1952 Clarke et al. ..102/60 4/1969 DeLuca ..102/60 Primary ExaminerSamuel Feinberg Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Edgar J. Brower, Roy Miller and Gerald F. Baker [57] ABSTRACT A marker warhead is substituted for the explosive warhead of a guided missile so as to give an indication of the point of the fuze function or impact of the missile [51] Int. Cl. ..F42D 13/36, F421) 13/42 and mark the target for accurate delivery of conven- [58] Field of Search 102/60, 87 tional weapons.

[ References Cited 9 Claims, 2 Drawing Flgures UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2.409.380 10/1946 Nichols ..102/60 3 3 I t "7.- .v..... 44 *'\Q PATENTEDJAH 23 I973 INVENTORS, GEORGE S. HANDLER ATTORNEY. GERALD F. BAKER AGENT.

KENNETH R. FOOTE MILTON K. BURFORD BY ROY MILLER /vr// K///////////////// I \lN =3 U Q .H W W/M 4 y \QM O I ....o fig I n I. I. I U l r I Om I VN m N N TARGET MARKER WARHEAD GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for The Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a pyrotechnic marker device and particularly to such a marker incorporated in a missile and more particularly to such a pyrotechnic device incorporated in a guided missile.

Pyrotechnic markers, or spotting bullets, have been used in the past to distinguish the hits on a target made by shells from different guns.

Because of the cost of individual guided missiles it has been recognized as highly desirable that some kind of marker be incorporated in a missile to indicate the point of missile warhead detonation so as to enable the accurate delivery of conventional weapons against the chosen target. Initially a small section was added to the missile to contain the pyrotechnic, which was usually of white phosphorus or the like, but the signal produced with the small amount of white phosphorus and pyrotechnic materials was very poor when initiated by the warhead blast. Therefore, it was decided to convert the entire warhead section to a marker warhead.

By this invention, a marker warhead for guided missiles is provided which produces a fully acceptable signal, is relatively safe to handle and store, and includes an explosive device sufficient to destroy the guidance section of the missile after delivery.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an overall plan view ofa missile incorporating a warhead section according to the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal diametral cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the warhead.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The missile shown in FIG. 1 comprises a nose section 12; a warhead section 14; a guidance section 16, a motor section 18; and a tail section 20. Besides the usual fins on tail section 20 the missile shown also has fins 22 on section 16. When the missile is designed to accomplish the mission for which the present invention is intended, the warhead section 14 contains a pyrotechnic warhead, one example of which is shown in FIG. 2.

The pyrotechnic warhead comprises an outer casing 23 adapted to be fitted to the missile in a conventional manner as by bolting through holes 44 on the end of the housing 23.

Because control cables must pass through this section, a conduit passes through the warhead and is adapted to connect with conduit in the adjoining sections by means of bolts 42, for example.

In order to confine the pyrotechnic mixture 29, the casing 23 is fitted with fore and aft bulkheads 2| and 24 respectively. Bulkhead 21 is bored to receive a cupshaped member 32 which may be welded as shown at 33 or otherwise fastened to the bulkhead 21 to form a chamber 19.

A shaped explosive charge 35 having a liner 3] is placed into the chamber 19. Because of the shape of the explosive charge 35, a space 45 will be left between the shaped charge and the walls 32 of the chamber 19. This space is desirably filled with a plastic material. The liner 31 may be integral with the ring 34, or the element 34 may be a separate lock ring. In either event, the liner 31 and ring 34 are held snugly in place by a cover plate 40 fastened to the bulkhead 21 as by the studs 41, for example.

Bulkhead 24 is likewise counterbored and fitted with a cuplike chamber 28 which may also be fastened to the bulkhead as by welding at 25. Cup 28, which is closed by a threaded cover 43, contains a detonating means 47 and booster pellet 48 to initiate explosive action. The detonator and booster device in cup 28 are connected by a train of explosive 38 encased in a webbing 39 and a tube 37 fastened between cup 28 and cup 32.

Bulkhead 24 is also bored to receive a filler tube 26 to facilitate the filling of the casing with the pyrotechnic mixture 29. After filling, the container is advantageously closed by pressing a ball 17 into tube 26 and covering the ball with a plastic material 27 or another ball.

When the missile reaches its target and the booster in cup 28 is set off, detonation proceeds to the left along the detonation transfer link 38 to the shaped charge 35. Thus, sequentially, the pyrotechnic mix 29 is dispersed and then the shaped charge destroys the nose section of the missile.

In the marker, the basic ingredient has been white phosphorus or a mix of titanium tetrachloride and W. P., although red phosphorus has also given good results in tests and red phosphorus is safer to ship and store.

What is claimed is:

I. In a guided missile having a sensitive nose section and an explosive marker section, the improvement comprising:

a. said marker section being located directly behin said nose section; and

b. shaped charge means in said marker section for destruction of said nose section when said marker section fires.

2. A missile according to claim 1 wherein said marker section further comprises:

detonation means opposite said shaped charge means; and

transfer link means for causing detonation of said shaped charge subsequent to the firing of said detonation means.

3. A missile according to claim 2 wherein said transfer link means comprises a length of mild detonating fuse encased in a metal tube; said metal tube communicating with said detonation means on one end and said shaped charge on the other.

4. A missile according to claim 2 wherein said marker section comprises a central area and a peripheral area within a substantially cylindrical housmg;

said peripheral area containing pyrotechnic material;

and said central area containing said detonating means, transfer link means and shaped charge means.

5. A missile according to claim 4 wherein said pyrotechnic material comprises white phosphorus.

6 A missile according to claim 4 wherein said detonation means in said central cavity including, pyrotechnic material comprises white phosphorus and d t nation initiating means, titanium lelrachlol'ldev detonation transfer link means, and

7. A missile according to claim 4 wherein the Shaped Charge means; Pyrotechmc mateflal f P P 5 said peripheral cavity being bounded at each end by 8. A pyrotechnic device for use in a weapon system bulkhead means; and

comprising:

an elongated housing; attachment means on one end of said housing for attachment to a weapon assembly; 10 a central cavity in said housing coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said housing; a peripheral cavity surrounding said central cavity;

a reclosable filler opening in one of said bulkhead means.

9. The pyrotechnic means of claim 8 wherein said peripheral cavity is filled with a pyrotechnic mix including a form of phosphorus. 

1. In a guided missile having a sensitive nose section and an explosive marker section, the improvement comprising: a. said marker section being located directly behind said nose section; and b. shaped charge means in said marker section for destruction of said nose section when said marker section fires.
 2. A missile according to claim 1 wherein said marker section further comprises: detonation means opposite said shaped charge means; and transfer link means for causing detonation of said shaped charge subsequent to the firing of said detonation means.
 3. A missile according to claim 2 wherein said transfer link means comprises a length of mild detonating fuse encased in a metal tube; said metal tube communicating with said detonation means on one end and said shaped charge on the other.
 4. A missile according to claim 2 wherein said marker section comprises a central area and a peripheral area within a substantially cylindrical housing; said peripheral area containing pyrotechnic material; and said central area containing said detonating means, transfer link means and shaped charge means.
 5. A missile according to claim 4 wherein said pyrotechnic material comprises white phosphorus.
 6. A missile according to claim 4 wherein said pyrotechnic material comprises white phosphorus and titanium tetrachloride.
 7. A missile according to claim 4 wherein the pyrotechnic material is red phosphorus.
 8. A pyrotechnic device for use in a weapon system comprising: an elongated housing; attachment means on one end of said housing for attachment to a weapon assembly; a central cavity in said housing coaxial with the longitudinal axis of said housing; a peripheral cavity surrounding said central cavity; detonation means in said central cavity including, detonation initiating means, detonation transfer link means, and shaped charge means; said peripheral cavity being bounded at each end by bulkhead means; and a reclosable filler opening in one of said bulkhead means.
 9. The pyrotechnic means of claim 8 wherein said peripheral cavity is filled with a pyrotechnic mix including a form of phosphorus. 